The students, from KU's Lawrence campus and the schools of allied health and nursing in Kansas City, Kan., represent 96 of 105 Kansas counties, 41 other states and the District of Columbia, and 43 other countries.

Area honorees are as follows:

Emily Prais, of Bettendorf. Prais is a junior studying pre-nursing. She was named to the honor roll for the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.

Rachel Rauch, of Leclaire. Rauch is a senior studying applied behavioral science. She was named to the honor roll for the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.

Rebecca Townsend, of Muscatine. Townsend is a senior studying music therapy. She was named to the honor roll for the School of Music.

The honor roll comprises undergraduates who meet requirements in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences and in the schools of allied health; architecture, design and planning; business; education; engineering; journalism; music; nursing; pharmacy; and social welfare.

Honor roll criteria vary among the university's academic units. Some schools honor the top 10 percent of students enrolled, some establish a minimum grade-point average and others raise the minimum GPA for each year students are in school. Students must complete a minimum number of credit hours to be considered for the honor roll.

]]>rick@rcreader.com (Christy Little)Stage & TheatreWed, 10 Jul 2013 14:40:36 +0000Discount prescription drug programhttp://www.rcreader.com/news-releases/discount-prescription-drug-program/
http://www.rcreader.com/news-releases/discount-prescription-drug-program/Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa is looking into how hospitals are using a discount prescription drug program, known as 340B. Certain hospitals appear to be making sizeable profits from the program at the expense of Medicare, Medicaid and private health insurance. Grassley has asked the federal agency in the charge of the program, the Health Resources and Services Administration, about its oversight of the program and corresponded with several individual hospitals. He made the following comment on a new report responding to criticism of program uses.

“A report by an association representing the affected hospitals is not objective. Through my inquiries, I’ve been able to document that several hospitals are profiting from the 340B program rather than simply providing discounted drugs to the uninsured. Instead of using the deeply discounted drugs these hospitals receive for the most vulnerable in need, the hospitals are up-selling those drugs to patients with Medicare and private insurance because those patients can pay more. The hospitals are keeping the difference. Even if the 340B program allows this kind of upselling, that doesn’t make it right. It also isn’t right that we don’t know how hospitals are reinvesting 340B revenue. Nothing that I know of requires 340B hospitals to report how they use program savings and revenue. They could use the money for uninsured patients or they could use the money toward building a new wing. Without verification and oversight by HRSA, it’s impossible to know how each hospital uses the program. Each hospital should provide public documentation of how it uses program proceeds. Then the public would be able to evaluate claims of how hospitals use the money.”

]]>rick@rcreader.com (Grassley Press)Stage & TheatreTue, 09 Jul 2013 19:04:38 +0000'SEUSSICAL' Brings Beloved Books To Lifehttp://www.rcreader.com/news-releases/seussical-brings-beloved-books-to-life/
http://www.rcreader.com/news-releases/seussical-brings-beloved-books-to-life/Mount Carroll, IL-- The Magic Owl Children’s Theatre at Timber Lake Playhouse (TLP) presents an hour-long version of Seussical, a musical based on the books of Dr. Seuss July 9, 11, 12 and 13 at 2:00 pm. All tickets for Magic Owl shows are only $6.00 and partially sponsored by the Illinois Arts Council, a state agency. Each year, these subsidized Magic Owl shows introduce thousands of young people to the joy and magic of live theatre.

Seussical tells the stories of Horton, the elephant, who finds an entire planet of Whos on a small speck of dust, Gertrude McFuzz who longs for Horton and a bigger tail, Mayzie La Bird who convinces Horton to sit on her egg and The Cat in The Hat, who plays tricks as these stories intertwine into one adventure for the characters and the audience. The show also includes references to such Dr. Seuss classics as How The Grinch Stole Christmas, The Butter Battle Book, McElligot’s Pool, Oh, The Places You’ll Go, The Sneetches and The Lorax.

In April, with the help of the Carroll County Soil and Water Conservation District, TLP gave away 1000 small trees at the Sauk Valley Children’s Fair as part of the company Do Something Spectacular campaign. Kids who planted the trees, like the main character in The Lorax, and sent in pictures received free tickets to the show. The Do Something Spectacular Campaign is designed to use the stories happening on stage at TLP to inspire creativity and community involvement in the region.

The cast of Seussical includes members of TLP’s professional resident company from all over the country. Will Boze of Sterling, Illinois also stars as Jojo, the young thinker who thinks up the entire adventure.

Seussical has additional performances August 6, 8, 9 and 10 at 11:00 a.m. TLP is located at 8215 Black Oak Rd. in rural Mount Carroll, IL. Tickets are $6.00 and are available at the box office, by calling 815-244-2035 or visiting www.timberlakeplayhouse.org. The show is appropriate for all ages. Early reservations are suggested, as many Magic Owl shows sell out.

SEUSSICAL is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI). All authorized performance materials are also provided by MTI.

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]]>rick@rcreader.com (James Beaudry)Stage & TheatreTue, 09 Jul 2013 18:31:02 +0000FRATERNITY MEN CYCLING ACROSS COUNTRY FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES RIDE INTO DAVENPORThttp://www.rcreader.com/news-releases/fraternity-men-cycling-across-country-for-people-with-disabilities-ride-into-davenport/
http://www.rcreader.com/news-releases/fraternity-men-cycling-across-country-for-people-with-disabilities-ride-into-davenport/A Journey of Hope to Enhance the Quality of Life

DAVENPORT, IA– On Wednesday, July 17, a team of cyclists participating in the 26th Journey of Hope, presented by KRG Capital, will arrive in Davenport as part of a nine-week, 4,000-mile cycling event across the country to raise funds and awareness for people with disabilities.

That evening, the team will have dinner and a Friendship Visit with the City of Davenport Parks and Recreation at 5:00 p.m. at their pool.

Journey of Hope is a program of Push America, the national philanthropy of Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity, which raises funds and awareness for people with disabilities. The Journey of Hope team consists of men from Pi Kappa Phi chapters across the country. The team will cycle an average of 75 miles per day, beginning in San Francisco and Seattle and ending in Washington, D.C. on August 10.

At stops across the country, the three routes (North, South and TransAmerica) will distribute grants directly to assist organizations in serving people with disabilities. For the team, the real journey will not be on a bike, but spending time with the people for whom they are riding. The Journey of Hope team members will spend every afternoon with people with disabilities in many different community events and activities. These men are striving for community inclusion of people with disabilities and are helping to break the barriers of society that keep people of all abilities from living life to the fullest.

The organization was founded in 1977 with the hope of committing its members to enhance the lives of people with disabilities. With the combined efforts of sponsors and individual team members, this year’s Journey of Hope will raise more than $500,000 on behalf of people with disabilities. Push America and Pi Kappa Phi have raised over $15 million to date and continue to be on the cutting edge of the disability movement.

]]>rick@rcreader.com (Josh Sasek)Stage & TheatreTue, 09 Jul 2013 15:05:37 +0000Brucemore Outdoor Children’s Theater Presents: The Amazing Story Machinehttp://www.rcreader.com/news-releases/brucemore-outdoor-childrens-theater-presents-the-amazing-story-machine/
http://www.rcreader.com/news-releases/brucemore-outdoor-childrens-theater-presents-the-amazing-story-machine/The eleventh annual Brucemore Outdoor Children’s Theater will bring to life The Amazing Story Machine, July 24 – 27 at 5:30 and 7:30 p.m. Arthur the Inventor and his pet mouse, Rusty, will pull audiences out of their seats and take them on adventures of story time favorites, Cinderella, Hansel and Gretel, and The Lion and the Mouse, during thisworld premier written by Joe Link and directed by Nathan Nelson. This will be Link’s seventh original production on the Brucemore stage; previous plays include The Incredible Adventures of Captain Spoon, The Forgetful Pirate; The Princess Who Wouldn’t Wear Pink; and Tyrannosaurus Fetch. Each year, the Brucemore Outdoor Children’s Theater promises an engaging performance sure to keep the young audience captivated and the adult audience entertained.

Brucemore’s natural amphitheater near the pond will set the stage for this hour-long performance. Gates open at 5:00 and 7:00 p.m. Children and their adult chaperones are encouraged to bring blankets and lawn chairs (no food or beverage please). On-site parking is available. Tickets are $5 for adults and $3 for children. Brucemore Outdoor Children’s Theater is sponsored by US Bank and media sponsored by ImOn Communications. Purchase tickets by visiting www.brucemore.org, calling (319) 362-7375, or at the box office the night of the event. Ticket purchases are nonrefundable.

Experience Brucemore, an unparalleled blend of tradition and culture, located at 2160 Linden Drive SE, Cedar Rapids, Iowa. At the heart of the historic 26-acre estate stands a nineteenth-century mansion filled with the stories of three Cedar Rapids families. Concerts, theater, programs, and tours enliven the site and celebrate the heritage of a community. For more information, call (319) 362-7375 or visit www.brucemore.org.

###]]>rick@rcreader.com (Tara Richards)Stage & TheatreTue, 09 Jul 2013 14:50:11 +0000A GREEN RIVER Opens Fridayhttp://www.rcreader.com/news-releases/a-green-river-opens-friday/
http://www.rcreader.com/news-releases/a-green-river-opens-friday/When the QC Theatre Workshop debuts its world-premiere presentation of A Green River, running at the Davenport venue July 5 through 14, author Aaron Randolph III will celebrate the end of a lengthy journey, as he's spent the last five years writing, re-writing, and continually developing his powerful combat-veteran drama.Yet considering that the production's rehearsal process, as Randolph says, has been a truly collaborative effort between himself, director Daniel DP Sheridan, and the show's five-person cast – with entire scenes sometimes shaped primarily through improvisation – he won't be celebrating alone.“Everyone has contributed to the finished product,” says Randolph, “either through making suggestions for dialogue changes, or helping organize the material in more effective ways, or reinterpreting lines in ways I never would've imagined on my own. And while this sort of collaboration can sometimes turn 'simple fixes' into major undertakings, the end result is a much stronger play.”Adds Sheridan, “The depth brought to this production by the artists involved is what makes this one of the most dynamic theatrical pieces I've ever been involved with. There have been some heated discussions and disagreements, but they've only made us delve even deeper into this story.”A Green River centers on the character of Erik (portrayed by Thomas Alan Taylor), a young Army veteran who has returned from overseas to a world he now struggles to recognize. Told through a kaleidoscopic blend of present-day sequences, flashbacks, memories, and dreams, the 90-minute drama explores the frequently harsh realities of being a soldier, a husband, a son, a brother, and an expectant father – obligations that weigh heavily on Erik's already troubled mind.Yet despite A Green River's weighty material, Sheridan states, “The script is incredibly engaging and really captures the scope of Erik's life. And in any life, there are moments of great joy and sorrow. I really think the audience will have a full emotional experience, because this play is heartbreaking, funny, scary, honest, dangerous, and thrilling.”“The show is all about very human people dealing with wide ranges of emotions,” adds Randolph, whose production also features Jessica Sheridan, Joe Goodall, Jessica Denney, and Mike Schulz as significant figures in Erik's life. “So while there are some intense moments, there's also a great deal of love and humor in the play. I actually hope people find themselves laughing a lot during the course of the show.”Taylor, whose character is seen at many different ages over a two-decade period, is himself no stranger to the process of working on debuting scripts, as the actor appeared in five original theatrical productions as a student at the University of Iowa.“Being part of a premiere really pushes you to re-attach to the role of storyteller,” says Taylor, “because it's the only time the story itself is being developed along with the production. And it's very rewarding to be part of something that's never been done before. There's a higher sense of ownership for all of us, especially since this process has involved so much improvisation.”As for the role he has been entrusted with, Taylor says, “I love the challenge of bringing clarity and specificity to Erik's journey. It's extremely challenging to cover a 20-year arc, a harrowing struggle with civilian stresses, and the suffering of a modern American soldier all within the script's stream-of-consciousness structure. Aaron has done tremendous work, and being able to give breath to Erik through his words is quite an honor.”A Green River is also a considerable technical challenge, with the show's sprawling riverfront set, lighting, and original sound effects and music – composed by Randolph himself – contributing greatly to the show's tone.“We are focused on using the technical elements to heighten the psychological state of Erik's character,” says Sheridan. “We want the audience to not only witness, but feel, the stress Erik is under. And we're really pushing ourselves as artists in terms of expanding the experience at appropriate moments. We're holding nothing back in our design options.”Adds Randolph, “The play is about blending very natural things with very surreal things, and I'm trying to blend sound and music so there's a constant flow between reality and memory.“I kind of have this sword-forging mentality about how I like to work,” he continues. “When you make a sword, you shape the metal into place only to heat it back up and fold the metal again. By doing this over and over again, you end up with something that's effective and strong. And hopefully, that's what we're making here.”A Green River will be staged at the QC Theatre Workshop (1730 Wilkes Avenue, Davenport, IA) Friday, July 5, through Sunday, July 14, with show times at 7:30 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, and 3 p.m. on Sundays. Due to the play's adult language and violent scenes, this debuting drama is recommended for mature audiences, and as with the QC Theatre Workshop's previous productions, the show will be presented under the company's unique “Pay What It's Worth” policy, allowing audience members to determine their own ticket prices following each performance based on the quality of their theatrical experience.For reservations and more information on A Green River, please call (563)650-2396 or e-mail info@QCTheatreWorkshop.org, and visit QCTheatreWorkshop.org and Facebook.com/QCTheatreWorkshop.A Green River performance dates:Friday, July 5 – 7:30 p.m.Saturday, July 6 – 7:30 p.m.Sunday, July 7 – 3 p.m.Friday, July 12 – 7:30 p.m.Saturday, July 13 – 7:30 p.m.Sunday, July 14 – 3 p.m.Location:QC Theatre Workshop1730 Wilkes Avenue, Davenport, Iowa, 52804(563)650-2396info@QCTheatreWorkshop.orgQCTheatreWorkshop.orgFacebook.com/QCTheatreWorkshop]]>rick@rcreader.com (Tyson Danner)Stage & TheatreFri, 05 Jul 2013 17:54:50 +0000Theatre Cedar Rapids Call for Actorshttp://www.rcreader.com/news-releases/theatre-cedar-rapids-call-for-actors/
http://www.rcreader.com/news-releases/theatre-cedar-rapids-call-for-actors/July 1, 2013 - Cedar Rapids, Iowa - Theatre Cedar Rapids will hold auditions for the upcoming musical production of The Music Man in Concert at:

6pm to 9pm MONDAY July 8th (Kids)

7pm to 10pm TUESDAY July 9th (Adults)

7pm to 10pm WEDNESDAY July 10th (Adults)

Those wishing to audition only need to attend one of the times.

With an expected chorus of 80 local singers and performers, this is a collaborative event between Theatre Cedar Rapids and Orchestra Iowa, in an evening of incredible singing with classics such as: "76 Trombones" "Shipoopi" "Goodnight My Someone" and other favorites from one of the greatest and most beloved musicals of all time. To be performed at The Paramount Theater with Orchestra Iowa and Conducted by Maestro Timothy Hankewich September 26-29, 2013.

Those auditioning are asked to prepare music selections in advance based on the part but may be asked to sing any of the selections listed. Prerecorded accompaniment will be used for auditions; these tracks are available online at the Theatre Cedar Rapids website.

Roles and audition numbers:

HAROLD HILL :

76 Trombones or Till There Was You

MARIAN PAROO:

Good night My Someone

Chorus:

76 Trombones, Goodnight My Someone or Wells Fargo Wagon

AMARYLLIS

Wells Fargo Wagon

MARCELLUS:

Shapoopi verse 1 and refrain

WINTHROP:

Wells Fargo Wagon or Gary, Indiana

**Pick a Little" ladies, Mayor Shinn, Eulalie Shinn, Ms. Paroo etc. will all be chosen out of the CHORUS cast.

More About THE MUSIC MAN...

An affectionate paean to Smalltown, U.S.A. of a bygone era, Meredith Willson's THE MUSIC MAN follows fast-talking traveling salesman Harold Hill as he cons the people of River City, Iowa into buying instruments and uniforms for a boys' band he vows to organize - this despite the fact he doesn't know a trombone from a treble clef. His plans to skip town with the cash are foiled when he falls for Marian the librarian, who transforms him into a respectable citizen by curtain's fall.

This award-winning, critically acclaimed Broadway classic is an all-American institution, thanks to is quirky characters, charmingly predictable dramatic situations, and one-of-a-kind, nostalgic score of rousing marches, barbershop quartets and sentimental ballads which have become popular standards.

By turns wicked, funny, warm, romantic and touching, THE MUSIC MAN is family entertainment at its best.

Director & Music Director: Cameron Sullenberger

Choreographer: Alisabeth Von Presley

Assistant Director: Brian Glick

For more information on this show, the roles available, or to check out a script, call 319-366-8592 or go to www.theatrecr.org. All auditions will take place at Theatre Cedar Rapids, 102 3rd Street SE.

The Chapter will meet on July 11, 7:00 p.m. at the Hickory Gardens, 3311 Hickory Grove Road in Davenport. Key item is plans for the For-Get-Me-Not Drive this fall. Tentative dates are September 13 and 14. We have set those dates with Wal-Mart. Members who can work a two hour shift should contact Commander Paul Janecek at 563-386-3533. At our July meeting we will have sign up sheeting with proposed working shift printed on them.

Future meetings: No meeting in August. There will be a regular meeting September 12; October 10; November 14; and no meeting December. We will give a schedule for 2014 in our November Newsletter.

DAV Auxiliary

We CAN NOT URGE DAV AND DAVA MEMBERS ENOUGH to find an Auxiliary member or member candidate to come to our next meeting. Call Mrs. Janecek at 563-386-3533 or Beverly Cherryholmes at 563-332-5161. Auxiliary meeting will be same time as Chapter meeting.

AMVET’S POST 144 – MEETING INFORMATION

PLACE: Hickory Gardens DATE: June 24 2013 TIME: 5:00 P.M.

Come to enjoy the fellowship, good food, and a productive meeting. We will have information about out Picnic (inside not outside). Because of the storm, I did not attend the June 24th meeting. I would have told you that our indoor picnic has been scheduled for September 15 at Biaggi’s Ristoranti Italiano @ 5195 Utica Ridge Road in Davenport, Iowa. The time is 5:00 p.m. You MUST make reservations or you may not have a seat at the table!!!

HOW HAVE WE ALLOWED GOVERNMENT TO VIOLATE OUR 4TH AMENDMENT?

When we vote we put our faith and trust in those we elect to office. Today, we know that some of these people disregard the “Oath” they take and violated your rights under the 4th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. The revelations by a whistleblower and some of the media has exposed spying upon a vast number of citizens of this country is most alarming. For those who have read Orwell’s 1984 it has come to pass. We are not safe from the spying of our Government in the safety of our own home. An abuse of power greater than anything we have known in the History of the United States. I can tell you I am concerned and you should be also. We must demand Congressional investigations be conducted. The Speaker of the U.S House of Representatives has indicated that if all of this spying is true that people need to go to jail. The leaders of this spying need to be put in jail! Elected officials who have been involved need to be removed from office.

Every veteran needs to write the Speaker and ask him to do what he said. We need to call our two Senators and Congressmen to start action. I believe we have a legal right to be safe in our homes. Amendment IV (1791) James Madison wrote the following: “The right of the people to be secure in their persons, house, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be search and the persons or things to be seized.” Madison said it then and it means the same today!

In keeping with the student-centered focus at Rockhurst, the program featured two student speakers: Katie Marie Birkenfeld, Kearney, Neb., who received a Bachelor of Arts in English and philosophy; and Andrew Christopher Kurz, Sedalia, Mo., who received a Master of Occupational Therapy.

Rockhurst University is one of 28 Catholic, Jesuit universities in the United States. It seeks to challenge students while providing a supportive environment for intellectual and personal growth. U.S. News & World Report consistently names Rockhurst among the top Midwest Regional Universities. Rockhurst is the only institution in the Kansas City area to have earned the community engagement classification from the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching.

]]>rick@rcreader.com (Katherine Frohoff)Stage & TheatreTue, 02 Jul 2013 20:13:55 +0000BEMIDJI STATE UNIVERSITY ANNOUNCES ITS SPRING SEMESTER DEAN'S LISThttp://www.rcreader.com/news-releases/bemidji-state-university-announces-its-spring-semester-deans-list/
http://www.rcreader.com/news-releases/bemidji-state-university-announces-its-spring-semester-deans-list/Melissa Youngblut from Davenport, Iowa. Bemidji State students carrying 12 or more semester hours during any one term and earning at least 3.25 (B-plus) grade point average are listed on the Dean's List.